Any business owner will appreciate that they have a very strict Duty of Care to both their employees and their clients or customers when it comes to electrical safety. Testing may include fault finding in individual appliances, testing and tagging all equipment and using heat detecting devices to pick up hidden problems. One of the most important elements of your electrical security is your safety switch, which requires regular RCD testing in Perth.
An RCD switch is just a safety switch, which works by tripping any time it senses an electrical fault. By immediately shutting off the current, it prevents further damage to the faulty appliance, sparking at the plug, electrical shock to the person using the appliance, and even prevents fires. With so many important functions, it is no wonder that the government soon made RCD switches mandatory in all workplaces and new homes. Having one installed is alone not enough to prevent problems, and it must be checked regularly to ensure that it will perform in your time of need. You should note that a circuit breaker and an RCD are not one in the same. While both work to protect electrical equipment from sparks, overheating and fires caused by faults, it is only the latter that helps to prevent electrocution. The next question that follows then is how to tell the difference between an RCD and a circuit breaker. While the actual switch/switches look identical, the RCD can be identified by its (often round) ‘test’ button.
So, what exactly does RCD testing look for? First of all, it looks to see that the mechanism is capable of detecting faults. This is what most people associate with the process. However, it should also have a secondary function, which is to test whether the RCD is capable of shutting off the power adequately and in a timely fashion, so that disaster can be averted. If the RCD can close off power, but is delayed in doing so, then it is hardly helpful and the damage would have already been inflicted.
If you are using items that are not connected to your main fuse box, you can either fit a power point individually with an RCD, which shows a ‘test’ and ‘reset’ button between the standby switches. Alternatively, you could make use of a portable RCD, commonly an orange box with a power point attached, which will safely trip any appliances directly connected to it if needed. Each of these types of RCDs needs to be tested by a qualified and capable professional, who is able to interpret the readings of an RCD testing machine. It is up to you as a business or homeowner to arrange regular testing which is in line with your obligations.
Some people can get confused with how often they are required to test, and this is because partly because there are a number of different tests to be performed at different intervals. A push button test is the simplest, and should be carried out once every three months or so. This is very simple for a professional to carry out, and will not inconvenience your business at all. It simply tests that the switch does trip when an earth leakage is present. Then there is the operation time test, which is exactly what it sounds. This is the one that ensures your switch does its job fast enough to be effective. If you’ve noticed nuisance tripping, then this could be a sign of a greater problem. Offer this information to your electrician and allow them to find the problem.
Have a chat to the Successful RCD Testing Superstars in Perth at TestCorp.
An RCD switch is just a safety switch, which works by tripping any time it senses an electrical fault. By immediately shutting off the current, it prevents further damage to the faulty appliance, sparking at the plug, electrical shock to the person using the appliance, and even prevents fires. With so many important functions, it is no wonder that the government soon made RCD switches mandatory in all workplaces and new homes. Having one installed is alone not enough to prevent problems, and it must be checked regularly to ensure that it will perform in your time of need. You should note that a circuit breaker and an RCD are not one in the same. While both work to protect electrical equipment from sparks, overheating and fires caused by faults, it is only the latter that helps to prevent electrocution. The next question that follows then is how to tell the difference between an RCD and a circuit breaker. While the actual switch/switches look identical, the RCD can be identified by its (often round) ‘test’ button.
So, what exactly does RCD testing look for? First of all, it looks to see that the mechanism is capable of detecting faults. This is what most people associate with the process. However, it should also have a secondary function, which is to test whether the RCD is capable of shutting off the power adequately and in a timely fashion, so that disaster can be averted. If the RCD can close off power, but is delayed in doing so, then it is hardly helpful and the damage would have already been inflicted.
If you are using items that are not connected to your main fuse box, you can either fit a power point individually with an RCD, which shows a ‘test’ and ‘reset’ button between the standby switches. Alternatively, you could make use of a portable RCD, commonly an orange box with a power point attached, which will safely trip any appliances directly connected to it if needed. Each of these types of RCDs needs to be tested by a qualified and capable professional, who is able to interpret the readings of an RCD testing machine. It is up to you as a business or homeowner to arrange regular testing which is in line with your obligations.
Some people can get confused with how often they are required to test, and this is because partly because there are a number of different tests to be performed at different intervals. A push button test is the simplest, and should be carried out once every three months or so. This is very simple for a professional to carry out, and will not inconvenience your business at all. It simply tests that the switch does trip when an earth leakage is present. Then there is the operation time test, which is exactly what it sounds. This is the one that ensures your switch does its job fast enough to be effective. If you’ve noticed nuisance tripping, then this could be a sign of a greater problem. Offer this information to your electrician and allow them to find the problem.
Have a chat to the Successful RCD Testing Superstars in Perth at TestCorp.
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